Clinton Devon Estates is proud to be supporting the Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project’s (DGHBP) drive to promote wildlife gardening to schools and allotment holders in Beer.
By planting different types of wildflowers to attract insects, gardeners in turn are supporting bats. All 17 species of British bats eat only insects, including Beer’s rare Greater Horseshoe bat population.
We have invited all our allotment holders to make a corner of their allotment wildlife friendly and have sent a packet of ‘bat-friendly’ wildflower seeds and a wildlife gardening booklet to each of them.
Many of our allotments lie outside the DGHBP project areas (which are linked to maternity roosts for the Greater Horseshoe bat) however, we’re sure that other gardeners will be interested in getting involved with this simple wildlife gardening measure.
Kate Ponting, Countryside Learning Officer at Clinton Devon Estates, explained: “By planting a wide variety of wildflowers, it attracts a vast range of insects as they come to find food there. This will help provide food for the local bat population ensuring that they can thrive.
“We hope all our allotment holders take part and plant their seeds and we’d like to encourage anyone else who is able to do the same. You don’t need an allotment; a tub or window box is ideal and extra seed packets and leaflets are available.”
DGHBP has also provided seed packets to local schools and encouraged them to allocate a portion of their school grounds to wildflowers.
Anyone interested in planting their own bat-friendly wildflower patch should contact Kate on [email protected] to request a seed packet and leaflet. In Beer collect both from the Bomb Shelter or the Beer Fine Foundation. Limited numbers are available.
Please also share any pictures of your wildflower planting – email them to Kate or tag Clinton Devon Estates in your photographs on social media, Twitter @ClintonDevon or Facebook.com/ClintonDevonEstates.
For more information about Devon Greater Horseshoe Bat Project, visit http://devonbatproject.org/.